Potential Centre-Back Options?

Red the Bear said:
I've really warmed up on Torres, but his speed is a major concern for me.
Also its not a given that he plays to that level in an attacking side though to his credit he was rather decent from what I watched of him in the euros.
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Torres is quick.

I also think that Villarreal is among the most attacking teams in La Liga. Only two team have more possession in the attacking third and the opponents box than Villarreal this season, Barcelona and Real Madrid. And only Real Madrid has a higher xg. So I would argue that Villarreal is very attacking. Perhaps the most attacking team in La Liga.

Last summer everybody was so worked up about Varane. Unfortunately, he was probably the closest thing to a Maguire/Lindelof-copy out there. But more injury prone. The pace/agility he had a few years ago is pretty much gone. It was an amateur move and so stupid!
 
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Torres would be a perfect signing. Brilliant on the ball, good in the air and a great reader. He is not slow, contrary to some of the comments in this thread. I have watched him at least 20 times over the last 3 years and he has never been exposed as slow. He wasn't exposed against us in 2 games earlier in the season and the same applies to the Munich games. He has a wand of a left foot.
What I really love about Torres is he's a leader, something we are so badly missing.
It was Torres that we should have bought last summer not Varane.
Bring in Torres and Tinder for the RB and CH cover and we'll have a great defensive base to start from.
 
andersj said:
Torres is quick.

I also think that Villarreal is among the most attacking teams in La Liga. Only two team have more possession in the attacking third and the opponents box than Villarreal this season, Barcelona and Real Madrid. And only Real Madrid has a higher xg. So I would argue that Villarreal is very attacking. Perhaps the most attacking team in La Liga.

Last summer everybody was so worked up about Varane. Unfortunately, he was probably the closest thing to a Maguire/Lindelof-copy out there. But more injury prone. The pace/agility he had a few years ago is pretty much gone. It was an amateur move and so stupid!
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My opinion is perhaps skewed by the fact that games i watch of them emery parks the buss and rightfully so , so I just don't get the impression of them being particularly attacking though they are obviously effective.
Same with his speed, he just doesn't look very speedy.
I'm just hoping your not right about Varane as we simply can't handle another crook on big wages in our list :(
 
gajender said:
And a keeper who actually does the basics well it might serve us better than bringing CB every other summer .
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Yeah I would agree. I would actually say CB is our lowest priority position. We have England's best CB, France's best CB, Sweden's best CB (and captain) and Bailly who starts every game for the Ivory Coast when fit.

We haven't addressed the CM position(s) or GK position in years, and I'd say we'd get far more out of investing in those areas.

I'll repeat the point I have been making all season.....there isn't a CB on the planet who would look good in our current set-up, because we're the easiest side to play through in the league
 
Kweku Amonoo said:
Nico Schlotterbeck of Freiburg would be my first pick. Arguably best young German defender, reads the game well and passes brilliantly. We should take a serious look at him. He’d be quite cheap too.
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Schlotterbeck for me too. He's agressive only supposed to cost €20-25m. N'Dicka is supposed to be only €20m as well. Both are in there last both are in their last year of their contracts. When was the last time we had two left footed centre backs?

I like Frimpong for RB too out of the Bundesliga but I haven't seen any reports as to how much he would be.
 
Crick said:
Schlotterbeck for me too. He's agressive only supposed to cost €20-25m. N'Dicka is supposed to be only €20m as well. Both are in there last both are in their last year of their contracts. When was the last time we had two left footed centre backs?

I like Frimpong for RB too out of the Bundesliga but I haven't seen any reports as to how much he would be.
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I would love Schlotterbeck but he's apparently adamant about staying in the Bundesliga, which rules us out. He will be Bayern/Dortmund/Leipzig bound eventually I have no doubt
 
Mylock said:
Torres would be a perfect signing. Brilliant on the ball, good in the air and a great reader. He is not slow, contrary to some of the comments in this thread. I have watched him at least 20 times over the last 3 years and he has never been exposed as slow. He wasn't exposed against us in 2 games earlier in the season and the same applies to the Munich games. He has a wand of a left foot.
What I really love about Torres is he's a leader, something we are so badly missing.
It was Torres that we should have bought last summer not Varane.
Bring in Torres and Tinder for the RB and CH cover and we'll have a great defensive base to start from.
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He’s absolutely not good in the air. It’s probably the weakest aspect of his defensive game.

Everything else I agree with but it’s really important for people to understand this isn’t an all action CB this is very much a ball playing CB so don’t expect tackles and duels from him as he’s not that kind of player. He’d absolutely give us more control out of the back and more line breaking passes.
 
I think it would be a poor use of funds to sign another CB this summer.

DM
CM
RW
RB

If we sign a CB instead of any of those positions, it's poor prioritisation.
 
BenitoSTARR said:
He’s absolutely not good in the air. It’s probably the weakest aspect of his defensive game.

Everything else I agree with but it’s really important for people to understand this isn’t an all action CB this is very much a ball playing CB so don’t expect tackles and duels from him as he’s not that kind of player. He’d absolutely give us more control out of the back and more line breaking passes.
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I wouldn't agree with you that he's poor in the air, I watched him against Juventus, Munich and ourselves and I thought he was very good in the air in those games. He's not Van Dyke in the air but he's good enough.
As you said he's a ball playing CB that would make a big difference to the way we play.
 
We are probably selling Bailly, Jones and Tuanzebe so one cb might be a must.
 
BenitoSTARR said:
He’s absolutely not good in the air. It’s probably the weakest aspect of his defensive game.

Everything else I agree with but it’s really important for people to understand this isn’t an all action CB this is very much a ball playing CB so don’t expect tackles and duels from him as he’s not that kind of player. He’d absolutely give us more control out of the back and more line breaking passes.
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Indeed. Torres is very passive, defensively. The polar opposite really to a player like Schlotterbeck, who is much more aggressive, but not as composed on the ball. Both good players, but very different. Then you have someone like Bastoni, who stylistically fits somewhere in the middle. The club hopefully know what they are looking for.
 
Edmond Tapsoba as an under the radar signing?

Dominant in the air, strong, very quick and composed on the ball. Anyone that watches a lot of German football think he would do well here?
 
Mylock said:
I wouldn't agree with you that he's poor in the air, I watched him against Juventus, Munich and ourselves and I thought he was very good in the air in those games. He's not Van Dyke in the air but he's good enough.
As you said he's a ball playing CB that would make a big difference to the way we play.
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I never said he was poor but I’m saying he’s not objectively good. It’s completely misrepresenting what he is like as a player to suggest he’s good. Good means he’s regularly competing and winning aerials he doesn’t regularly compete and he wins them at a very average rate 64.1% (51st percentile)

For comparison Lindelöf is 72.4% (89th percentile) he wins more per 90 and loses less per 90 than Torres would you say Lindelöf is good in the air?

There’s a huge difference between saying good and good enough. Good implies a strength good enough implies they are average but not terrible.
 
BenitoSTARR said:
He’s absolutely not good in the air. It’s probably the weakest aspect of his defensive game.

Everything else I agree with but it’s really important for people to understand this isn’t an all action CB this is very much a ball playing CB so don’t expect tackles and duels from him as he’s not that kind of player. He’d absolutely give us more control out of the back and more line breaking passes.
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Agree with this.

Though it's worth noting that his percentage of aerial duels won has increased year on year over the last three years, from 47.4% up to 64.4% now. Given he's 6ft 3, it was always likely improvement on that front was possible.

And obviously the point of emphasising what defenders do in possession is that you end up facing less aerial duels anyway. As it stands we're already the PL side who with the biggest slice of their aerial duels, it just doesn't count for as much as some people think.
 
Have you considered Marry Haguire?
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Class of 1902 said:
Edmond Tapsoba as an under the radar signing?

Dominant in the air, strong, very quick and composed on the ball. Anyone that watches a lot of German football think he would do well here?
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Think he would be a good signing, for the right price
 
Skills said:
I think it would be a poor use of funds to sign another CB this summer.

DM
CM
RW
RB

If we sign a CB instead of any of those positions, it's poor prioritisation.
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Yeah bad as our options are in that area, we simply have to prioritise those positions first.
 
Just to inform you, but apparently Schlotterbeck and BVB hve an agreement.
 
BenitoSTARR said:
He’s absolutely not good in the air. It’s probably the weakest aspect of his defensive game.

Everything else I agree with but it’s really important for people to understand this isn’t an all action CB this is very much a ball playing CB so don’t expect tackles and duels from him as he’s not that kind of player. He’d absolutely give us more control out of the back and more line breaking passes.
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Though the gap in playing styles has narrowed a lot over the als decade, this is why I dont want us to sign him not sure he is suited to the premiership and he wont be cheap either
 
Skills said:
I think it would be a poor use of funds to sign another CB this summer.

DM
CM
RW
RB

If we sign a CB instead of any of those positions, it's poor prioritisation.
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We could well be down to Maguire, Varane, Lindelof and Mengi as our only centre backs this summer, yet we have McFred, VDB, Fernandes, Garner, Shoetire....on the rihgt Amad, Pellestri, (maybe) Greenwood.

I am not saying that as a good thing, but we may need to sign a centre back purely numbers wise let alone improving the quality.

Personally 4 signings would be a poor windownwhen there are five problems in the starting eleven at least and just as many in terms of back up options.

We simply have to sign 5/6 players this summer I feel
 
I love Torres but I think we missed the boat last year, we probably should try to offload Varane if we possibly can if we are in for Torres. I wouldn’t mind selling Maguire either although it doesn’t look like happening.

My preferred option at CB position would be DeLigt but he is represented by Riaola so that’s a complete no no. Another CB I would be really interested in is upamecano. He is kinda unsettled at Bayern and they can be tempted to sell him. He is the kind of aggressive CB we need in our setup.
 
I don't think we'll go on a leading center back this summer, maybe someone for the squad.

Most of our budget will spend on a DM and a ST and other potential players would depend on sales.
 
Anyone seen much of Reece Oxford this season? Having a pretty decent season for Augsburg from what I’ve seen on Twitter. Could be a decent back up option.
 
Skills said:
I think it would be a poor use of funds to sign another CB this summer.

DM
CM
RW
RB

If we sign a CB instead of any of those positions, it's poor prioritisation.
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I agree. How many cbs do we need? Unless we are selling Maguire and Bailly a cb is not a priority this summer.
 
How's Josko Gvardiol doing at Leipzig ? Wonder do we have any interest considering Ralf's ties with them.
 
golden_blunder said:
I agree that midfield is first priority but if this season has shown us anything it’s that none of our CBs are reliable
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I'd agree with that though perhaps your boy Lindelof is the exception. Varane has injury issues, Maguire has talent issues and Bailly has selection issues. This is without counting Axel and Mengi . Between those 6 players even with a couple injuries we should be ok for a season. I agree we are lacking that top cb partnership that is consistent but that might have to wait until Maguire is gone.
 






Presumably someone like Kounde (who is being linked to Chelsea) is still an option as well. Ball-playing CBs ftw.
 
Desert Eagle said:
I'd agree with that though perhaps your boy Lindelof is the exception. Varane has injury issues, Maguire has talent issues and Bailly has selection issues. This is without counting Axel and Mengi . Between those 6 players even with a couple injuries we should be ok for a season. I agree we are lacking that top cb partnership that is consistent but that might have to wait until Maguire is gone.
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Lindelof has had his fair share of injuries this season, that’s even before looking at his consistency
Maguire seems to have mentally collapsed. Im not sure if he can claw his way back. Also injuries
Varane is like glass man
Bailly is made of balsa wood and mad as a box of frogs. On his way out. Has played about 3 games since his contract update so obviously not rated by Ralph
Tuanzebe out on loans constantly, he should be looking to leave
Mengi not sure he’s ready for even the bench

i think we need someone
 
Kaos said:
Yes, more out of hope than expectation. I’m a dummy I know.
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Most honest post on the Caf :lol:
I'm the same. I honestly think human brains are limited to using 2 brain cells for anything footy related.

On the topic, I'm actually kind of worried. ETH seems to have the Vangle hard on for lefties and I don't fancy Torres. Who else is there?

golden_blunder said:
Lindelof has had his fair share of injuries this season, that’s even before looking at his consistency
Maguire seems to have mentally collapsed. Im not sure if he can claw his way back. Also injuries
Varane is like glass man
Bailly is made of balsa wood and mad as a box of frogs. On his way out. Has played about 3 games since his contract update so obviously not rated by Ralph
Tuanzebe out on loans constantly, he should be looking to leave
Mengi not sure he’s ready for even the bench

i think we need someone
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Good summary, I hope Bailly stays though. He's more of an ETH CB than the others.
 
Desert Eagle said:
I'd agree with that though perhaps your boy Lindelof is the exception. Varane has injury issues, Maguire has talent issues and Bailly has selection issues. This is without counting Axel and Mengi . Between those 6 players even with a couple injuries we should be ok for a season. I agree we are lacking that top cb partnership that is consistent but that might have to wait until Maguire is gone.
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Really? You have alluded to it yourself with your opening comments. We dont have a number one centre back or a number two centre back and none of the other options are even challengin gthem, Lindelof is a number four entre back, jOhnny Evans was a better centre back, arguably still is.

I dont even think we can talk about priorities as there isnt even a five-a-side team of valuable starters at the moment.

100% we need a new centre back, Tuanzabe has done nothing to warrant comign back, Mengi is stil very young, Bailly and Jones are probably off, Maguire has been abysmal and Varane has been decent in the handfulof games he ahs played as he is gettign niggling injuries. I think we need a centre back just as much as we need a right back and at least one central midfielder personally, our whol eback four and pivots are abysmal at the moment, we are poor al over the place but without the ball I think we are actually one of the weakest teams in the league and the back six players have a lot to do with that, need to change
 
jesperjaap said:
Really? You have alluded to it yourself with your opening comments. We dont have a number one centre back or a number two centre back and none of the other options are even challengin gthem, Lindelof is a number four entre back, jOhnny Evans was a better centre back, arguably still is.

I dont even think we can talk about priorities as there isnt even a five-a-side team of valuable starters at the moment.

100% we need a new centre back, Tuanzabe has done nothing to warrant comign back, Mengi is stil very young, Bailly and Jones are probably off, Maguire has been abysmal and Varane has been decent in the handfulof games he ahs played as he is gettign niggling injuries. I think we need a centre back just as much as we need a right back and at least one central midfielder personally, our whol eback four and pivots are abysmal at the moment, we are poor al over the place but without the ball I think we are actually one of the weakest teams in the league and the back six players have a lot to do with that, need to change
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How did I forget the legend Phil jones?! That's 7 center backs, without counting Axel and Mengi that's still 5. I think decent coaching and a fresh season might help a couple of them. I say we give Varane another season to see if he can consistently play for us and pair him with Lindelof or Bailly. Maguire can be the most expensive sub in history and cover for Varane if/when he goes down. We even have Mctom who plays there for his country. I'd rather we focus on positions where we have very little cover and not even one class player like right back.
 
My top three for new CB this summer. And yes, I know, Schlotterbeck is 95% almost done deal for Dortmund.
Jurrien Timber
Niko Schlotterbeck
Josko Gvardiol

Outsiders
Pau Torres & Edmond Tapsoba

All good, ball-playing, strong, quick in feet & in mind, and lots of talent to keep developing.
 
Desert Eagle said:
How did I forget the legend Phil jones?! That's 7 center backs, without counting Axel and Mengi that's still 5. I think decent coaching and a fresh season might help a couple of them. I say we give Varane another season to see if he can consistently play for us and pair him with Lindelof or Bailly. Maguire can be the most expensive sub in history and cover for Varane if/when he goes down. We even have Mctom who plays there for his country. I'd rather we focus on positions where we have very little cover and not even one class player like right back.
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I think you’re mad to pass over that lot. Yes midfield plays a big part but they are defenders and this season they’ve acted like clowns. When they are fit that is. I say “they” because collectively they are below par. They’ve conceded 9 against Liverpool alone. Shocking
 
Ideally we would let Jones, Axel and Bailly move on, cannot fanthom us being able to do so in one window though.

If we do, we would be left with Maguire, Lindelof and an injury prone Varane. Mengi as an outsider. We would have to get a new CB in said scenario.
 
I don't think we'll go on a Pau just because of a budget.

We'll bring Timber in less money for the squad and we'll focus on DM and ST this summer
 
sullydnl said:






Presumably someone like Kounde (who is being linked to Chelsea) is still an option as well. Ball-playing CBs ftw.
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Dont like Pau Torres one bit, he's a slighly better Lindelof. He lack's physicallity and agressiveness, I like ball playing CBs, just not at the cost of the agressiveness.
 
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